Pocket Watch Database

Due to the lack of existing factory records, our E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone) database has been reconstructed using observations of known watches.
As a result, the information may contain inaccuracies. Please let us know if you have details that can improve the database.

From the American Horology Archive:
E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone) Grade Series 9 Pocket Watch

E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)

Grade: Series 9

Manufacturer: E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone)
Manufacturer Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Movement Serial Number: 985076
Grade: Series 9
Model: 1905
Estimated Production Year: 1911
Run Quantity: 3,500
Grade/Model Run: 8 of 15
Grade/Model Total Production: 16,610
Variant Est. Production: 11,000 (16S-M1905-17J-ONP)
Size: 16s
Jewels: 17j
Movement Configuration: Openface
Movement Finish: Nickel
Finish Pattern: Checkerboard
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Double Roller: Yes
Hairspring: Breguet
Adjusted: Yes
Adjusted # of Positions: 3
Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
Adjusted to Isochronism: Yes
Railroad Grade: No
Dial Feet Locations: 10.7, 24.3, 48.9
U.S. Patents: 781263, 796162, 886387, 900183, 992013, 971496, 978612, 981667
Case: Various
Run ID: 114.G8.16S95.161905M83.O63.P92.17J87
Database Version: v52.219
Advanced Metrics
PWDB Absolute Rarity Index:
Scoped for Grade/Size/Model/Configuration
34.43
PWDB Relative Rarity Index:
Rarity within Manufacturer - Scoped for Grade/Size/Model/Configuration
115.02
Share of Production:
Share within Manufacturer - Scoped for Grade/Size/Model/Configuration
2.226%
Registry Population: 69 (1.97%)
Research Note: #983716: Reported with certificate indicating adjustment to 3 positions.

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Verification Reports for this Run

The following reports have been graciously submitted by dedicated members in reference to this production run. These reports are useful to verify data and track inaccuracies that require further research. Please note that reports may contain inaccurate information or assumptions that must be dilligently considered with other available sources.


Anonymous · March 23, 2024

Serial Number 985526 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · January 16, 2024

Serial Number 983726 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · January 30, 2023

Serial Number 986750 was reported as accurate.

texnet 684 · November 2, 2021

Serial Number 983586 was reported as accurate.

Faberius 5 · June 27, 2021

Serial Number 984075 was reported as accurate.

nicnic Supporter 378 · May 14, 2021

Serial Number 985076 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · January 22, 2021

Serial Number 984267 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · July 28, 2020

Serial Number 985673 was reported as accurate.

Joef21 162 · June 22, 2020

Serial Number 985655 was reported as accurate.

Swoop7 23 · March 26, 2020

Serial Number 983788 was reported as accurate.

Swoop7 23 · March 26, 2020

Serial Number 983788 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · December 9, 2019

Serial Number 983716 was reported as inaccurate.

Note: This movement , SN 983,716, is currently on EBAY
with the original license indicating that it is
adjusted to 3 positions.
How did you arrive at a SN cutoff for series
4 's and 9's? Should this be modified?, But how.
unless you have factory records.
It is possible that in the transition from 4
to 9, they began to used a 3 position balance
wheel (gold meantime and bras weighting screws
)rather than a 5 position balance wheel which had
all gold screws.
This remains a big mystery
Curator Response: Thanks for the report. As indicated above the lookup table, the database is compiled from known observations. Factory catalogs and other original sources support that the Series 4 was adjusted to 5 positions while the Series 9 was adjusted to 3 positions. One visual modification between these two grades is the change to brass balance weight screws instead of gold. There is certainly a mixture of runs as the company introduced these modifications, possibly to fulfill orders properly for the "legacy" Series 4 grade. Thus, it is always important to closely inspect the movement to determine the grade within the transitional period.

Anonymous · November 5, 2019

Serial Number 985549 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · October 23, 2019

Serial Number 983716 was reported as inaccurate.

Note: The original license describes this as a 3
position watch. The data base lists it as a 5
position watch. It is possible that during the
transition from series 4 to 9, some later series
4's may have been produced as 3 position movements
Curator Response: Thanks for the report and information. This is exactly where production transitions from the Series 4 to the Series 9. Your information has allowed for further refinement on the estimated split between the Series 4 and Series 9 run, and the database has been updated accordingly.
Changes since this report was submitted:
Grade changed from Series 4 to Series 9
Movement Setting changed from Mixed to Pendant
Adjusted # Positions changed from 5 to 3

darkstar 247 · October 20, 2019

Serial Number 985556 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · June 7, 2019

Serial Number 983625 was reported as inaccurate.

Note: As shown on EBAY the movement has the
checkerboard damaskeening characteristic of this
series 4. It is shown with a 24 hour Canadian
style Montgomery dial. It is marked Adj. 5 pos,
but also marked No.2. Presumably used for RR
service, there is no indication whether it is
pendant or lever set, but most likely the latter.
If so this movement qualifies for RR service. The
question remains , concerning the use of the term,
No.2
Curator Response: Thanks for the report. Please provide a link to the auction page or the item number for further evaluation.
Changes since this report was submitted:
Grade changed from Series 4 to Series 9
Movement Setting changed from Mixed to Pendant
Adjusted # Positions changed from 5 to 3

Anonymous · June 2, 2019

Serial Number 984353 was reported as accurate.

Anonymous · February 1, 2019

Serial Number 986724 was reported as inaccurate.

No further details were submitted with the report.
E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone) Grade Series 9 Pocket Watch